Sales in the US Compact SUV segment rose by 18.0% to 1,792,752 in the first half of 2018, with sales growth accelerating slightly in the second quarter of the year, relative to the first. With the new Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester going on sales soon, and the new Ford Escape about to make its debut, the good times are sure to keep rolling for [Read more…]

Sales in the US Compact SUV segment rose by 17.1% to 850,324 in the first quarter of 2018, a considerably faster rate of growth than the 4.6% recorded in 2017 overall. With a ton of new or facelifted models having made their debuts in the market over the past 12 months this is hardly unexpected, but still serves to underscore the love [Read more…]

The largest segment got larger, while new cars are outperformed by established segment players

Sales in the US compact SUV segment, the largest of all segments, rose by 5.8% to 806,341 in the fourth quarter of 2017, while overall in 2017 sales in the segment grew by 4.6% to 3,159,468. What’s more, there seems to be no end in sight for this bonanza – not only did 2017 see a ton of new models debut in the market (Honda CR-V, [Read more…]

Sales in the largest of all segments, the compact SUV segment (2,379,590 sales YTD), grew by 4% in the third quarter, a better pace than the 1% registered in the second quarter, but some way off all the other SUV segments. Still, this still means that the segment grew by 4% YTD compared to a 3% decline for the market as a whole, as one would expect given the continued shift towards crossovers among the buying public. And with a ton of new models in the market (Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-5, Jeep Compass, Kia Niro, GMC Terrain, Subaru XV Crosstrek, VW Tiguan L) it is reasonable to expect the segments dominance will continue for a long time.

The latest, fourth generation Nissan Micra is a huge step-change from its dour predecessor, and a welcome return to form for the Japanese manufacturer. The latest European sales figures for the Micra suggest that consumers appreciate the new car, with sales over the past few months being almost twice as high as they were for the old model in 2016. A huge part of the new model’s appeal is its exterior styling – it is as bold as the third-generation model was shapeless. What’s more, it looks coherent even though the designers seem to have thrown every single design cues that’s trendy: strong character lines, creases, hidden rear door handles and a blacked-out C-pillar. Combined, they all give the Micra a look that’s unique in almost every way.

Sales in the Compact SUV segment grew at a leisurely 1.4% pace in the second quarter of 2017, a step down from the rate of growth the segment enjoyed in the first quarter (7.8%). Taken together, the segment grew at an average 4.4% in the first half of the year, a much better performance than the market as a whole (sales fell 2.3% overall), but still a slower rate of growth than the other three non-premium SUV segments, all of which grew at around 10%. Still, the segment is assured in its utter dominance of the market, and its sales of over 1.5 million in the first half of the year are 36% higher than in the next-largest segments: compact car and large pickup. What’s more, with a raft of new models either already on the market (Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-5, Jeep Compass, Kia Niro) or hitting the market in the next few months (GMC Terrain, Subaru XV Crosstrek, VW Tiguan) it would take a brave person to bet against the segment continuing to thrive in 2017.

After a 3.9% increase in 2016, sales in the Compact SUV segment pick up steam and improve 9% in the first quarter of 2017, to 742,230 units. This makes it by far the largest segment with a comfortable lead of more than 200,000 sales over the second-largest segment, that of large pickup trucks. It’s also 270,000 sales ahead of the midsized sedan segment, which used to be the biggest segment until 2013. A whole bunch of new or redesigned models will hit the market this year or already have in the first quarter, which should only help the cars in this segment consolidate its position as the family-hauler favorites.

Sales in the Compact SUV segment increased by 3.9 percent compared to 2015, to a grand total of 3,067,307 cars sold. This is quite the result – not only does this give the segment a big lead over the second-largest segment, Mid-sized with 2,311,850 sales, but it is the first time ever any one segment has crossed the 3 million threshold. With a bevy of new models entering the market in 2017 (Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Honda CR-V, Jeep Compass and Mazda CX-5) it is reasonable to expect the segment will continue growing in the future, as it solidifies its position as the golden middle of the market, and a firm family-favorite.

Sales of Compact SUVs in the United States increased 5 percent in the third quarter of 2016, exactly the same rate of growth it achieved in each of the first two quarters of the year. This steady sales growth achieved a total volume of almost 2.3 million sales so far this year, which means the compact crossover segment widened its lead over the shrinking Mid-sized sedan segment as the largest segment in the US.

Sales in the Compact SUV segment grew by 5 percent in the second quarter of the year, exactly the same rate of growth it achieved in the first quarter of the year. With growth continuing apace, and a total volume of 1,471,848 cars so far this year, the sector widened its lead over the shrinking Mid-sized sector as the largest single sector in the US. [Read more…]